Solar Eclipse 2003 May
31

The first solar eclipse of 2003 occurred on
May 31. Due to the dynamics of the moon's orbit this eclipse occurred near
apogee when the lunar
disk was not large enough to cover the sun and the eclipse was therefore
"annular". The path of
annularity crossed the northern Atlantic, Iceland, the north of Scotland,
the Orkneys and Shetland - weather permitting, at maximum eclipse the sun/moon would appear as a "ring of
fire" in the sky with almost 97% of the sun covered. It was always going to be a difficult to
observe annularity because of the low elevation and the requirement for a very
clear and unobstructed sea horizon to the north east. We
almost did it! Here
is my report.

AFA Members and others waiting patiently for
the sun-moon to rise above the sea fog.

~03:55UT; about nine minutes after maximum,
the sun-moon are rising through the mist; 1000mm lens combination at f/16
-
no filter.

~03:57UT; the sun-moon are almost risen
imparting beautifully warm tones to the mist; 1000mm lens combination at
f/16 - no filter.

04:01UT; a wonderful sight seen through
thinning mist; 1000mm lens combination at f/16 - no filter.

04:15UT; the eclipse illuminating streaky
clouds. No filter was used as the cloud/mist acted as an effective filter.
Note the sunspot group at 3 o'clock.

04:42UT; two minutes to 4th contact. Note
the two sunspot groups. ND5 filter in front of a 1000mm lens combination
at f/16, 1/8s exposure.

Some observers stayed up all
night to view the eclipse, here sharing their impressions of the spectacle in
progress.